It's early spring in Tasmania. The almond, apricots and peaches have blossomed and set fruit and the quinces, pears and most of the apples are blossoming now. We decided that we needed more room for growing our vegetables so, over the winter, we moved a few of our fruit trees to open up the centre of the orchard for market-garden-style plantings in addition to the raised beds that we have used in previous years. This allows us to use my favourite toy - the BCS two-wheel tractor - and hopefully save my back in the long run. For those who don't know, this is a walk-behind tractor with a power take off that allows different implements to be fitted. We have the rotary hoe and mulching slasher. Both of these are 80 cm wide so that we can till, grow and mow the same width beds.
Using the tractor, I broke the turf last autumn and planted a green manure blend of oats, lupins, peas and broad/fava beans.
I have just now, as the flowers on the peas showed their beautiful purples, slashed them and tilled them in shallowly.
I think after about one week, I'll till again and use the ridger to form the beds for our main spring and summer plantings.
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